Renewalists believe that the Spirit has the divine nature and attributes of God. This post summarizes Scripture references and has a summary table of the attributes that the Father, Son, and Spirit share.
For clarity and conciseness, let’s use the outline format.
Let’s begin.
I.. The Spirit Has the Divine Nature.
A. Brief intro.
The following attributes are the same for the Father and the Son. A table in a section,, below, explores this topic.
1.. He is equal to God.
.In Acts 5:3-4, Peter said that Ananias lied both to God and the Spirit, equating the two.
2.. He is called the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus.
When Paul and his team wanted to go into Asia, the Holy Spirit did not permit them, and then he was called the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:6-7).
Paul easily and skillfully goes from the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ, which implies the Triunity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9).
Then he repeats this theology of unity by saying the Spirit cries in our hearts Abba father, because we have received the spirit of sonship. This means the Triunity of God (Rom. 8:13-14).
In 2 Corinthians 3:17 Paul says “the Lord is the Spirit,” indicating the close connection of the Spirit with the other two persons of the Triunity and the Spirit’s deity.
3.. He is united with the Father and Son.
In this great Triunity formula, Jesus said believers should go forth in all the world and baptize new disciples in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).
Paul believed early on in the Triunity of God: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God [Father], and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14).
4.. He is eternal.
Christ offered his blood in place of the blood of animals, through the eternal Spirit, so he can present us with clean consciences (Heb. 9:14). In v. 12, Jesus obtained eternal redemption. Our salvation, thanks to Jesus and the Spirit, are eternal.
5.. He is present everywhere (omnipresent).
David asked of God: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Then he answered in the following verses that he can go nowhere without the Spirit caring and seeing him (Ps. 139:7-10).
6.. All-knowing (omniscient)
The Spirit searches the deep things of God, and since it is clear the Father is omniscient, the Spirit is too (1 Cor. 2:10-11).
7.. One Spirit
Paul wrote to the Ephesians that they should make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit, meaning being united together in the Spirit, for there is one body and one Spirit (Eph. 4:3-4). He is a unity.
8.. Seven Spirits
When Jesus communicated to the seven churches in Asia Minor, he used the phrase “seven spirits,” that is the sevenfold one Spirit—seven aspects of the one Spirit. Seven speaks of his perfection, omnipresence, completeness (Rev. 1:4; Rev. 3:1). In the Revelation, the phrase seven Spirits is used only in heaven. On earth he is the Holy Spirit. His ministry is faceted, which is a blessing to us today, for he is the full person who can be explored. But we should not build an elaborate doctrine on this metaphor.
9.. Spirit of glory
Peter referred to the Spirit as the Spirit of glory, which is the presence of the Lord in the highest heaven. It speaks of light. We can have no doubt that when we get to heaven by God’s grace, the Spirit will fill our being and give us light. (1 Pet. 4:14)
10.. Spirit of holiness, Holy Spirit, Holy One
When Paul wrote his great doctrinal statement about God dealing with humankind and salvation, he began it with the phrase, “Spirit of holiness” (Rom. 1:4). It is another way of saying the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, the first time the Spirit is mentioned in the New Covenant Scriptures (Matt. 1:18-20).
We also have an anointing of the Holy One, who will lead us to the truth (1 John 2:20). This Anointing is through the Holy Spirit, but we do not have Spirit without limits, as God’s Son had (John 3:24).
Holiness at its root means separateness; the opposite is common or profane. You have the Holy Spirit in you. You have been set apart by God for his special purposes, unique to you. You must not get polluted by the world system and dysfunctional relationships. No, we are not called to stay away from unbelievers, because we must reach out to them. But we must avoid the taint (1 Cor. 5:0-13).
11. Spirit of wisdom
God gives wisdom and skill to workers, though the Spirit (Exod. 28:3). That is good news for anyone with craft and artistic skills.
Isaiah speaks of the Messiah who will have the Spirit of wisdom (Is. 11:2).
12.. Spirit of understanding
God sent his Spirit into workers, so they would know how to make things. If the Spirit inspired people with this mental virtue, then he must have it in him (Exod. 28:1).
God sent his Spirit on to the Messiah, who had deep knowledge and understanding of us and the creation (Is. 11:2).
13.. Spirit of knowledge
God gave workers sills to know how to make things. The Spirit has tis attribute in order for him to give it (Exod. 28:3).
God sent his Spirit into the Messiah with knowledge, so he can understand how to teach and to help those who listened to him (Is. 11:2).
He knows us and the world, to clarify and inspire us.
14.. Spirit of strength
The Messiah was the filled with the Spirit of might, If the Spirit gives might, then he must have it (Is. 11:2). This speaks of his omnipotence.
15.. Spirit of truth
The Spirit also anointed the Messiah with truth (Is. 11:2). This speaks of the Spirit’s truthfulness. The Spirit is called the truth (John 14:17; 15:26).
16.. Spirit of grace
We are not supposed to insult the Spirit of grace by continually and deliberately sinning (Heb. 10:29). Yes, the Spirit is full of grace, but he cannot be treated lightly, as if we are the lord of life. He gives grace and empowerment to help you to move away from confusion that leads to a sinful lifestyle.
As God was restoring the ancient Israelites after they were exiled to Babylon, God promised the ancient Israelites that he would pour out on them the Spirit of grace and inspire supplication—an earnest prayer for God to act (Zech. 12:10).
17. He is Almighty.
In a moment of clarity, one of Job’s comforters says that the Spirit of God is Almighty. (Job. 33:4).
4 The Spirit of God has made me;
the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4)
B.. Summary
Those attributes teach us that he is God. You will find a table of his activities, below. His ministry shows that he is a person. The tables about the Trinity, in section IV, below, adds more Scripture references and a side-by-side comparison in three columns.
II.. He is a Person
He has the attributes of a person.
A.. Intellect or mind
God searches the mind of the Spirit (Rom. 8:27). He is called the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph. 1:17). Wisdom and revelation resides in the mind.
B.. Knowledge
Only the Spirit knows the deep thoughts of God (1 Cor. 2:11).
C.. Emotion
The Spirit feels grief (Eph. 4:30). It is used of Paul when he felt grief for the stern letter he wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:2, 5). Thus a person grieves.
D.. Will
The Spirit distributes gifts as he wills or determines (1 Cor. 12:4).
The same verbs for “wills” or “determines” are used to describe the will of the Father (Jas. 1:18). And the Spirit exercised his will when he forbade Paul and his team to go into and preach (Acts 16:6).
III. His Activities Reveal His Personhood
A. Brief intro.
This table teaches us that he is a person we can get to know and experience. Though the Spirit himself is invisible, his activities are observable in nature and people (John 3:8).
| The Activities of the Spirit | Scriptures | |
| 1 | He teaches. | John 14:26 |
| 2 | He testifies. | John 15:26 |
| 3 | He guides. | Rom. 8:14 |
| 4 | He speaks. | 1 Cor. 12:13 |
| 5 | He enlightens. | John 16:13 |
| 6 | He strives. | Gen. 6:3 |
| 7 | He commands. | Acts 8:26 |
| 8 | He intercedes. | Rom. 8:26 |
| 9 | He sends workers. | Acts 13:4 |
| 10 | He calls. | Rev. 22:17 |
| 11 | He comforts. | John 16:7 |
| 12 | He works. | 1 Cor. 12:11 |
| 13 | He distributes gifts as he determines or wills. | 1 Cor. 12:11 |
| 14 | He causes new birth and entrance into God’s kingdom. | John 3:3, 5-6 |
| 15 | He encourages. | Acts 9:31 |
| 16 | He advocates. | John 14:16 |
| 17 | He hears and speaks. | John 16:13 |
| 18 | He grieves. | Eph. 4:30 |
| 19 | He can be resisted. | Acts 7:51 |
| 20 | He can be tested. | Acts 5:9 |
| 21 | He understands all things. | 1 Cor. 2:10 |
| 22 | He searches all things, even the deep things of God. | 1 Cor. 2:10 |
| 23 | He knows the thoughts of God. | 1 Cor. 2:11 |
| 24 | He can be quenched. | 1 Thess. 5:19 |
| 25 | He inspires prophecy. | 2 Peter 1:21 |
| 26 | He reveals truth. | John 16:14-15 |
| 27 | He receives truth from the Son. | John 16:14-15 |
| 28 | He can prove the world to be wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. | John 16:8 |
| 29 | He helps believers. | John 14:16 |
| 30 | He reminds believers what Jesus said. | John 14:26 |
| 31 | He leads. | Matt. 4:1 |
| 32 | He speaks through believers during trials. | Mark 13:11 |
| 33 | He gives life. | John 6:63; Rom. 8:10 |
| 34 | He can be lied to. | Acts 5:3 |
| 35 | He oversees councils. | Acts 15:28 |
| 36 | He prevents wrong direction and redirects Christians. | Acts 16:6-7 |
| 37 | He compels. | Acts 20:22 |
| 38 | He warns. | Acts 20:23 |
| 39 | He makes overseers. | Acts 20:28 |
| 40 | He circumcises the heart of its sin nature. | Rom. 2:20 |
| 41 | He lives in believers. | Rom. 8:9 |
| 42 | He lives in God’s temple, the church | 1 Cor. 3:16 |
| 43 | He bears witness to our spirits that we are God’s children. | Rom. 8:16 |
| 44 | He has a mind that can be searched. | Rom. 8:27 |
| 45 | He sanctifies believers. | Rom. 15:16; 1 Cor. 6:11 |
| 46 | He washes sinners. | 1 Cor. 6:11 |
| 47 | He justifies the repentant. | 1 Cor. 6:11 |
| 48 | He makes our bodies temples. | 1 Cor. 6:19 |
| 49 | He enables people to say. “Jesus is Lord.” | 1 Cor. 12:3 |
| 50 | He exercises a ministry. | 2 Cor. 3:8 |
| 51 | He gives liberty. | 2 Cor. 3:17 |
| 52 | He provides fellowship for believers. | 2 Cor. 13:14 |
| 53 | He calls out “Abba Father!” in our hearts. | Gal. 4:6 |
| 54 | He produces fruit in believers. | Gal. 5:22-23 |
| 55 | He seals us. | Eph. 1:13 |
| 56 | He grants us access to the Father. | Eph. 2:18 |
| 57 | He wields a sword, the word of God. | Eph. 6:17 |
| 58 | He enables believers to serve God. | Phil. 3:3 |
| 59 | He gives wisdom and understanding to believers, so he is wise and understands things. | Col. 1:9 |
| 60 | He gives psalms, hymns, and songs. | Col. 3:16 |
| 61 | He gives joy during severe suffering. | 1 Thess. 1:6 |
| 62 | He vindicated Jesus. | 1 Tim. 3:16 |
| 63 | He gives believers power, love, and self-discipline. | 2 Tim. 1:7 |
| 64 | He can be insulted. | Heb. 10:29 |
| 65 | He rests on believers. | 1 Peter 4:14 |
| 66 | He is the truth. | 1 John 5:6 |
| 67 | He resurrects. | Rom. 8:11 |
| 68 | He performs miracles | Matt. 12:28; Rom. 15:10 |
| 69 | He was involved in creation | Gen. 1:2 |
| 70 | He empowers believers to judge. | 1 Cor. 2:15 |
| 71 | He inspires reverence. | Is. 11:2 |
| 72 | He inspires supplication | Zech. 12:10 |
| Towns, p. 195, who had twelve acts of the Spirit. I expanded his idea. | ||
B. Summary
The Holy Spirit is active in Scripture. He can help us today, by doing those acts listed above. This table is not just words on the page, but you can experience the power and presence of the Spirit. You can observe him doing those activities, if you are in tune with the Spirit.
The smartest nonhuman mammal cannot accomplish those things, nor can a thing, an “it.” Even the smartest human cannot do some of those things. And when he can, then this only shows that the Spirit is a person. The Spirit is not an impersonal force.
IV. He Is the Third Person of the Trinity.
A.. Brief intro.
One of the deeper issues is the Triunity (also called the Trinity). It says that one God exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons share the same attributes or divine nature. This sharing one divine nature revealed in those numerous attributes means that they are deity.
One Divine Nature in Common = One God or Unity
Three persons who share this one divine nature = Tri
Tri + Unity = Triunity. = Trinity
So Christians are monotheists, but hold to a very special monotheism—we are Trinitarian monotheists.
B.. First table
Here is a table of Trinitarian attributes for further study:
|
ATTRIBUTES OF THE HOLY TRINITY |
||||
| Attribute | Father | Son | Holy Spirit | |
| 1 | Life | Jos. 3:10 | John 1:4 | Rom. 8:2 |
| 2 | Omniscience | Ps. 139:1-6 | John 4:17-18 | 1 Cor. 2:10-12 |
| 3 | Omnipotence | Gen. 1:1 | John 1:3 | Job. 33:4 |
| 4 | Omnipresence | Jer. 23:23-24 | Matt. 28:20 | Ps. 139:7-10 |
| 5 | Eternity | Ps. 90:2 | John 1:1 | Heb. 9:4 |
| 6 | Holiness | Lev. 11:44 | Acts 3:14 | Matt. 12:32 |
| 7 | Love | 1 John 4:8 | Rom. 8:37-39 | Gal. 5:22 |
| 8 | Truth | John 3:33 | John 14:6 | John 14:17 |
| 9 | Glory | Ex. 16:7 | 1 Cor. 2:8 | 1 Pet. 4:14 |
| 10 | Wisdom | Job 9:4 | Col. 2:2b-3 | Eph. 1:17 |
| 11 | Graciousness | Is. 30:18 | Eph. 2:4-9 | Heb. 10:29 |
| 12 | Peacefulness | Rom. 15:13 | Eph. 2:14 | Rom. 6:6 |
| 13 | Goodness | Exod. 33:19 | John 10:11, 14 | Gal. 5:22-23 |
| 14 | Patience | Rom. 2:4 | 1 Tim. 1:16 | Gal. 5:22-23 |
| 15 | Faithfulness | 1 Cor. 1:9 | Rev. 19:11 | Gal. 5:22-23 |
| 16 | Righteousness | Rom. 3:21-26 | Acts 7:52 | Rom. 14:17 |
| 17 | Joy | Neh. 8:10 | John 17:13 | Rom. 14:17 |
| In the right column, Galatians 5:22-23 speaks of the fruit of the Spirit. The main point is that if the Spirit produces those fruits, then he must have them in his person. | ||||
C. Second table
This table lists the works of the Trinity in the Scriptures.
|
THE WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY |
||||
| Work | Father | Son | Holy Spirit | |
| 1 | Creation of World | Ps 102:25 | John 1:3 | Gen 1:2 |
| 2 | Creation of Man | Gen 2:7 | Col. 1:16 | Job 33:4 |
| 3 | Death of Christ | Is 53:10 | John 10:18 | Heb 9:14 |
| 4 | Resurrection of Christ | Acts 2:32 | John 2:19 | 1 Pet 3:18 |
| 5 | Inspiration | Heb 1:1-2 | 1 Pet 1:10-11 | 2 Pet 1:21 |
| 6 | Indwelling of Believers | Eph 4:6 | Col 1:7 | 1 Cor 6:19 |
| 7 | Authority of Ministry | 2 Cor 3:4-6 | 1 Tim 1:12 | Acts 20:28 |
| 8 | Security of Believer | John 10:29 | Phil 1:6 | Eph 1:13-14 |
| This shows the unity of the Trinity. Each person of the Trinity contributed to each of these wonderful works, to God’s glory and for our salvation and redemption.
Source: Elmer Towns, p. 100 |
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D. Summary
These tables show the biblical basis for the Spirit being the third member of the Trinity. You can get to know all three persons of the Triunity. You can know the Father. You can get to know Jesus more intimately. And you can know the Spirit more personally.
V.. Scriptural Images of the Spirit
A.. Brief intro.
His Scriptural images and symbols also reveals more about him.
1.. Clothing
It comes from the verb Greek enduō, which means “to clothe.” The Spirit will come and endue (clothe) us with power (Luke 24:49).
2.. Dove
He came on Christ “as a dove” (Matt. 3:16), “like a dove” Mark 1:10), “in bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:22), and “as a dove” (John 1:32). The Spirit was not a dove, but came in that imagery.
The dove descends out of heaven from the presence of God, indicating that the Spirit came from the Father.
3.. Pledge
The Spirit comes into your heart as a pledge (Greek arrabōn and pronounced ahr-rah-bone)). It can mean “first installment, down payment, deposit.” It is part of the payment. This enables the purchaser to claim the legality of the item. So the Father claims us because he has sent his Spirit as an arrabōn into our hearts. It obligates him to make further payment. Our ultimate redemption will take place in heaven.
The arrabōn is a symbol or image of the Holy Spirit and guarantees our salvation all the way to heaven.
4.. Fire
Fire speaks of purity and approval and the presence of God (Lev. 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38-39; Mal. 3:3). The Spirit descended on the 120 in the upper room and appeared as tongues fire—not actual tongues (Acts 2:3)! Fire also symbolizes the judgment of God (Lev. 10:12). However, it is not as though Pentecost symbolizes judgment, except when it marked a dividing line between the old way under the New Covenant and the new way in the New Covenant.
5.. Oil
The Old Testament shows that priests and kings were anointed with oil and served as a type of the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:1-14). In that passage the high priest Joshua and the governor Zerubbabel were anointed and strengthened by the Spirit—through the oil—to complete to rebuilding of the temple in 515 B.C. The lampstand enjoyed a constant flow of oil (v. 2). Then comes the famous verse, quoted often by Renewalists: “‘Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit’ says the Lord.”
Here is a quick reference for the ministry of the Spirit as symbolized by oil. Spirit is given for ministry (Exod. 40:9-16 and Acts 1:8). Spirit illuminates (Exod. 27:20-21; 1 John 2:20)
Spirit cleanses and sanctifies (Lev. 8:30; 14:7; and Rom. 8:2-3).
6.. Seal
The Holy Spirit is symbolized by a seal of the believer (1 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30). The Roman soldiers sealed the stone that covered the tomb of Christ. It also sealed or marked papyri documents, to indicate the sender’s approval and authenticity and authority. So God seals us with the Spirit, which authenticates God’s activity and authority in our hearts.
7.. Water
From the believers’ innermost being flows rivers of living water (John 7:39). Water as a symbol of the Spirit indicates eternal life (John 4:14; 7:37-39). Water symbolizes a reception of the Holy Spirit (Ezek. 36:25-27; John 7:39).
8.. Wind
The Greek noun for “wind” and “spirit” is pneuma. From this linguistic fact wind has come to symbolize the Spirit. The wind seems to go where it wills, so the Spirit is also depicted as sovereign (John 3:8).
B.. Summary
God often speaks to us in language we can understand. We best grasp images. So metaphors are found throughout Scripture. In this case, these metaphors or images apply to the Holy Spirit.
VI.. Application
A.. The third person of the Trinity.
It is difficult to believe with our intellects, but the third person of the Trinity lives in us. We get to know the Father, through the Son, by the indwelling Holy Spirit. May he empower us to know him better and live a life of Spirit-led good works.
B. Personhood
The web allows us to post our ideas, good or bad, online, even in social media. Predictably, some want us to move away from the Triunity (also called the Trinity). They are wrong about this. We should never give up on this wonderful reality and doctrine.
For your walk with God, you can know the Spirit in all of these activities. He can encourage and call you. He can lead you into truth about God. He can guide you. You can have a personal relationship with the Spirit, just as you can with the Father and the Son. Yes, it is true that the Spirit will testify about Christ, but he can still speak and teach you.
You can pray in the Spirit, that is, in your prayer language (commonly called ‘tongues’), if you want this gift. It comes from God, and he gives only good gifts. But if you don’t want this gift, then you can still have intimacy with the Spirit in your spirit. Either way, develop this relationship.
C.. His names and titles
Quite simply, you can get to know the Spirit in his names or titles. He really is the truth. He really does reveal grace. Have you quieted your mind to hear his voice? You can’t live a distracted life and hear him regularly. Yes, you can hear him whenever he really needs to talk to you, but on an ongoing basis, you need to quiet your mind. Then you can discern his voice from your mind’s voice.
D.. His images
They reveal the Spirit’s character and ministry. One verse comes to mind:
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and they should pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (Jas. 5:14).
Oil was more than medicine. In fact, it is difficult to see how putting oil on the body, like the forehead, could work as medicine. It was the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Let’s trust that the Spirit is communicated in that way.
Water: when you are baptized, yes, it is a symbol of the grave, and you die to your old self, when you go in the water, but you come out a new person in Christ. You are seated in the heavenly places because of new life in Christ (Eph. 2:6). Water also symbolizes the Spirit flowing through your (John 7:39). Let the Spirit touch you and fill you and then flow out from you to be a blessing to others.
RELATED
Do I Really Know God? He Is Spirit
The Spirit in the Old Testament
The Spirit’s Deity and Divine Attributes
The Spirit in the Life of Christ
The Spirit in the Church and Believers
SOURCES
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 